Improvement ih car-couplings



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Bar-Coupling. 'N0.160,0 25 Pat ented Feb. 23,1875.

INVENTOR \mwi WITNESSES THE GRAPHIQGOJMOTOrLITNJQGLM PARK PLAGLNY.

HORAGE'MERIAM, OF BERLIN, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 60,025, dated February23, 1875; application filed August 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE MERIAM, of Berlin, in the county of GreenLake and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements inOar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to a coupling which is designed forrailroad-cars; and the object is to couple cars when they come together,connecting them securely, and

' allowing sufficient play for them to run when so coupled; also, todisconnect or uncouple them, when desired, without the necessity of theoperator going between the cars for that purpose.

my invention consists in a peculiarly-00m structed oscillatingelbow,which automatically uncouples the cars, being operated by a lever, whichwill be hereinafter set forth. It further consists in an oscillatinglever adapted to al low the cars to couple automatically and lock themin that position; also, to uncouple without getting between the cars.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved coupler. Fig. 2 isthe same as Fig. 1, showing my invention uncoupled. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, A is the body or frame which holds theoperating parts, to be described hereafter 5 and B, the same on theother to be coupled. Situated vithin this frame A is an inclinedplane,D,against which the connecting-link strikes in the act ofcoupling. The back surface of this piece D is vertical, and the whole isadapted so as to allow the link to pass over it on every side. 0 is anarmed lever, pivoted in the frame at c, the arm 0 thereof being providedwith a means for raising the same from the platform of the car at thewill of the operator. It may also be provided with a slide or springcatch to prevent the same from being raised by the jar of the car. Thevertical arm 0 extends (l0W11- ward and reaches down below the verticalback surface of the piece I). F is an elbow having two arms arranged atnearly right angles with each other, and it is pivoted at f to theframe. The arm G of the elbow F is bifurcated, and the bifurcatedextremities pass one on each side of the piece D. H is thecoupling-link.

The operation is as follows: The link H, when the cars come together.strikes the inclined plane of the piece D and passes along the sameuntil it strikes the arm 0 of the oscillatng lever O. This action raisesthe arm 0 until the link, by gravity, drops around the piece D, and thelever O, by gravity, resumes its original position. The lower surface ofthe arm 0 passes over the link, thus locking the ears together.

In uncoupling the cars it is only necessary to raise the arm 0 of thelever C. The arm presses against the elbow F, which, turning backward onits pivot f, raises the arm Gr, bearing up the link H over the piece D,and the cars are disconnected.

I claim 1. The elbow F, with bifurcated arm G, in combination with leverO and link H, as shown and specified.

2. The combination of the lever G, elbow F, having bifurcated arm Gr,link H, and piece D, as shown and specified.

I hereby affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE MERIAIVI.

Witnesses:

G. J. FERRISS, O. A. Pack.

